Cube sugar dispenser



July 27, 1954 Filed March 1, 1952 E. J. LIME ET AL CUBE SUGAR DISPENSER2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R7 \L 3. l' 57 I HHWMIII I 41 52 5/ M I? H 57 g L A 22Ii 1 H I I I 2/ INVENTOR.

July 27, 1954 E. J. LIME ET L CUBE SUGAR DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 1, 1952 ia mp.

, INVENTOR. Erma/ J. Lime and y Char/es .5. Hedges. M v ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 27, 1954 CUBE SUGAR DISPENSER Ermal J. Lime and Charles S.Hedges, Kansas City, Mo., assignors to Crelo Manufacturing Company,Inc., Kansas City, Did, a corporation of Missouri Application March 1,1952, Serial No. 274,396

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly toapparatus for dispensing cube sugar for use in connection with beveragevending machines and the like.

In machines for vending beverages such as coffee and the like it isdesirable to have a selective arrangement for adding sugar to thebeverage to suit the taste of the purchaser. While it is desirable tohave the sugar dispenser arranged and operated relative to the beveragevending machine where the purchaser at his own election can have hisbeverage without sugar, or with one or two cubes of sugar, it is alsodesirable that the total number or" cubes available for any onecontainer or cup of beverage be limited to prevent the cost of the cupof beverage being excessive and also to prevent emptying of the sugardispenser by the purchase of one cup of beverage.

The objects of the present invention are to to provide a cube sugardispenser with a discharge port and selectively operated mechanism forcontrolling said port for delivery or" one cube of sugar at a time; toprovide such a dispense with a movable member having a plurality ofpockets which is operated to move cubes of sugar into alignment with thedischarge port, said HlOV able member being actuated only at each time acup of beverage is purchased; to provide a cube container arranged tosupport the weight of the principal portion of the cubes and limit thequantity afiected by the movable member; to provide a cube liftingmember moved with the movable member to eliminate bridging of the cubesugar in the container; to provide a sugar dispenser with a dischargechamber separated from the main body of sugar in the dispenser andhaving such communication therewith as to limit the quantity of sugarcubes in the discharge chamber; and to provide a cube sugar dispenserwhich is economical to manufacture, efiicient in operation and easilyserviced.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, wehave provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view or" a cube sugar dispenser embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the cube sugar dispenser onthe line 2-2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the dispenser on the line3- -3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View showing the dispenser operatingmechanism from the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of thedispenser with the control mechanism operated. for the discharge of onecube of sugar.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the lower portion of the dispensingapparatus.

Fig. '1 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuits for the cubesugar dispenser.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a cube sugar dispensing apparatus adapted to be with amachine (not shown) for vending beverages by the cup or like container.The cube sugar dispensing apparatus preferably consists of a container 2having cylindrical, vertically arranged walls 3, the lower end or whichis suitably secured to a bottom member d, illustrated as beingrectangular in shape having depending legs 5 with feet 6 on the lowerends thereof adapted to be mounted on a suitable support to space thebottom t above said support suiiiciently for operating mechanism locatedtherebetween as later described.

A suitable cover I is removably mounted on the upper end of the Walls 3to close the upper end of the container, the cover 7 being removable forservicing of the dispenser by the addition of cubes of sugar to thecontainer.

A funnel-shaped partition 8 is suitably arranged in the container, inspaced relation to the bottom :3, to define a discharge chamber 9between the partition and the bottom and a storage chamber it above thepartition. The funnelpartition preferably has a suitable portion such asa cylindrical, vertical wall it slidabl engaging the interior of thecontainer wall 3, the lower end of said vertical wall it terminating ina downwardly and inwardly sloping wall 52 of substantially conicalformation, said wall iii having a central, axial aperture [3 therein forpassage of cubes of sugar from the storage chamber it to the dischargechamber 3 as later described.

The partition 2 preferabl rests on a rib or the like is extendinginwardly from container wall 3 and spaced from the bottom it to limitthe height of the discharge chamber d for movement of cubes of sugartherethrough to a discharge port it; in the bottom l of the container,said discharge port preferably being adjacent the side wall 3 asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. A shaft it is rotatably mounted in anaxial bore 5? in the bottom 4%. lhe lower end or" the chat extends belowthe bottom fl and secured to the lower end of the shaft is a coupling 68operatively connecting the shaft it with a shaft 23 driven by a motor 2i. The motor 2: is preferably of the type having a gear reduction unitenclosed in a portion 22 of 3 the motor housing whereby the shaft 2% isdriven at a relatively slow speed. The actor and gear reduction aresecured by suita fastening devices 23 to a bar of a U-shaped oraclzet 25having the upper ends of vertically esitendii. legs suitably secured asat 2? to the bottom wherein the bar portion of the bracket is spacedbelow the bottom 6. A earn member 23 is rigidly secured to the shaft itbetween the upper end of the coupling it and the bottom said cam havinglobes and dwells in its periphery for opening and closing a microswitch3i supported on a bracket 32 in such a manner a roller 33 on the arm ofthe switch engages the periphery of the earn, the inicroswitch "i beingconnected into the circuit of motor ill for controlling operation ofsame as later descr'he". The upper end of the shaft it extends axial thecontainer 2 th ugh the discharge chaniher and for a substantial distanceinto the storage chamber 58 illustrated. in Fig. 2.

A rotor 35 is arranged in the discharge chainher 9 and co red to theshaft 58 by a key The bottom of the rotor a flat surface Bl which spacedfrom the upper surface of the bottom t by means of uitable washers orthe like 39. The upper portion of the rote" as ill in Figs. 2 and 5, hasa flat portio'i shaft said fiat portion t downwardly and outwardlyslopin which ternih conical surface -1- portion that extends to the perotor. The thickness of the rotor bottom surface and the surface is.referab v slightly greater than the thickness of one or more cubes ofsugar as desired. The rotor is pr vided with a plurality of pocketsequally spaced around the periphery of the rotor. Each of the pocketsextends v rotor and is of sufficient it de t-n for free movement of onecube of sugar through the pocket. A lifting device in the form or a coilspring or the like is sleeved on the shaft it and extends from the flatsurface it of the rotor to the upper end of the shaft, said spring beingheld on the shaft by means of a cap secured as a screw to the upper endof the shaft. The shaft it and spring thereon are of such size relativeto the aperture it through which they extend that cubes of sugar willpass between the edge of the aperture and the spring.

Cubes of sugar contained in the storage char! her it are supported onthe conical wall it of the funnel member 8, and while cubes can passthrough the space between the edges of the aperture 63 and the springthere is a natural tendency for the cubes to bridge the aperture so thatno cubes would fall through the aperture. Also the spacing of the of therotor from the edge of the aperture i8 is such that the cubes of sugartend to arrange thernsaves in one layer on the upper surface of thelfitql' and slide into the to pockets and not permit additional cup-esflow out over the first layer on stack up on discharge chainher.

Operation of the motor ill rotates the sh ft l6 and the rotor to alignone of the po with the discharge opening The neX tion of the rotor againturns t e shaft to move asther pocket 1 the discharge opening 55.structure, there are four poor: ts on the rotor whereby the shaft irotor 25 are turned e quarter of a revolution on each opera 'on of themotor it. This rotation of the shaft 55 also turns the spring l l whichis coiled in such a manner that the rotation provides a 1' 'ng action onthe cubes of sugar hearing thereagainst, thereby providing slightagitation. of the cubes in the storage chamber to prevent bridgingaction, thereby causing the cuhes to move through the aperture 53.

Discharge of cubes of sugar i charge port i5 is controlled s an openingwhich through on slide is moved into and out of rcgi discharge port it.The ll arranged di oetrically of ccntai the lower face of the bottom Theportion of the slide adjacent the opening is slidahly supset as at Eland connected to Vi of a solenoid which suitably supper on the bottomslide The intermediate portion of is provided with an elongated openinwhich the shaft extends. The en shaft ie to resilie': solenoid, theelongated opening being so arranged flat when the solenoid is zed theslide will he toward the solen to ect registry of the opening with thedis-ch portion when the solenoid is dee zed the sp: slide to the otherend of its strol: opening id is out of registry wi port is shown in Fig.2.

A vane is secur to the the openi g vane extends through a sl and lies onthe upper Si f hereof and the discharge port it when hopeni g it is outof registry therewith and is moved to discharge port it when the operegistry with said port. The vane p1 of sugar from engaging the ed esport when the rotor 35 is rotated. This ment, together with the thicknes of prevents broken cuhes or pieces with the operation of the In theillustrated str cture, the hot '*'ering with the slide and member El onan inwardly which extends through a slot the container. The vane lowerend of a fiat spring end of said spring being secuw fastening devices 32to the e tainer side wall 3 in vertical :3. vane 58.

ieinber into The wherein the opening is is out of registry with thedischarge port E5, the engagement of the slide and stop member swingsthe vane outwardly on the spring relative to the container whereby thenext cube of sugar in the pocket 23 may drop down onto the vane 56 asillustrated in Fig. 2.

In using a sugar dispenser constructed as described in connection with abeverage vending machine, the motor M is connected to a suitable sourceof electrical energy with the microswitch 3| in one of the leads to themotor, said lead being in parallel circuit with the control circuit ofthe vending machine in such a manner that when a coin is placed in thevending machine and the electrical apparatus thereof energized a relay63 is energized to close the circuit to the motor 2! to start sameoperating, the time element of the energization of the vending machinecircuit being such that the motor will operate from such circuitsufficiently to rotate the cam 23 until the roller 33 moves off of alobe of the cam, whereby the arm 34 will close the switch 35. The motor2! will then be energized independently of the vending machine tocontinue operation until the next lobe 2c is engaged with the roller 3%to lift the arm 34 and disengage the contacts of the switch 3!, breakingthe circuit to the motor 25. There are the same number of lobes 29 onthe cam 23 as there are pockets in the rotor and the lobes of the camare positioned relative to the pockets 43 whereby when the motor 24deenergized, one of the pockets will be "li nment with the dischargeport it. Also rotation of the shaft It by the motor 2! prevents bridgingof the cubes of sugar whereby said cubes will pass into the dischargechamber and over the upper face of the rotor into the pockets 23. Due tothe vane 5-5 covering the discharge port E5, the thickness of the rotor,the slope of the upper urface of the rotor, and spacing between therotor and the partition, no more than a desired number of cubes of sugarwill become aligned with the discharge port I5, and the interengagementof the cubes on the upper surface of the rotor is such that additionalcubes of sugar will not slide into the pocket it when the rotor isstationary. If the purchaser desires no sugar, the cubes remainundisturbed until the vending machine is again operated to obtain a cupof beverage, at which time the motor 2! is again energized to rotate therotor and position the next pocket 53 in alignment with the dischargeport l5, the cubes of sugar moving onto the vane 56 which has thin edgesto facilitate such movement without damage of cubes. If the purchaserdesires sugar he presses a manual switch 54 in a circult connecting thesolenoid with the source of suitable current to energize said solenoidto move the slide and vane to effect registry of the discharge openingwith the discharge port it and uncover said port. Simultaneously withsuch movement, the vane 58 enters the discharge chamber to engage andsupport the next cube of sugar in the pocket 43 above the one in thedischarge port, which will drop through the discharge opening dS into achute t5 and slide therethrough to drop in a cup of beverage. Uponrelease of the switch a spring will return the slide to move the vane 56into covering relation with the discharge port it and the opening ts outof registry with the discharge port it and through engagement of the endof the slide and stop member 5? the vane 53 is also moved outwardlysufficiently to allow the next cube of sugar to drop onto the vane 56,If the purchaser desires a second cube of sugar he can again close theswitch 54, energize the solenoid and repeat the process. Since only adesired number of cubes can be stacked in registry with a pocket 43, thepurchaser will be limited to that number of cubes, although he cancontinue to operate the switch to energize the solenoid and efiectreciprocation of the slide.

It is believed obvious that we have provided a dispenser for cube sugarfor positive and efiicient dispensing of a limited number of cubes intocups or other containers of beverage.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing one or more of a limited quantity of cubesof sugar and the like comprising, a container having a bottom andupwardly extending cylindrical side wall thereon, a cover removablymounted on the upper end of the side wall to close the container, saidcontainer having a discharge port in the bottom adiacent the side wall,a funnel-shaped partition having a periphery engaging the side wall ofthe container, means in the container supporting the partition in spacedrelation to the bottom for defining a cube storage chamber above thepartition and a discharge chamber below the par tition, said partitionhaving an aperture therein for passage of cubes into the dischargechamber, a rotor in the discharge chamber having a plurality of spacedpockets in the periphery thereoi, said rotor adjacent, the pockets beingof a thickness substantially corresponding to the collective thicknessof a desired maximum quantity of cubes to be dispensed from any oneposition of the rotor, means for rotating said rotor to position therespective pockets in registry with the discharge port, said rotorhaving a sloping upper surface suitably spaced from the partitionwhereby rotation of the rotor effects movement of cubes over said uppersurface into the p ckets, a slide member normally closing the dischargeport and movable to open same for dispensing cubes through saiddischarge port from the respective pocket in registry therewith, andmeans operable by the slide member to extend into the respective rotorDocket above the discharge port as the slide is moved to open thedischarge port for supporting any cubes above the one adjacent to andaligned with the discharge port whereby the cubes are dispensed one foreach time the slide member is moved to open the discharge port until therespective registering rotor pocket is empty.

2. Apparatus for dispensing one or more of a limited quantity of cubesof sugar and the like comprising, a container having a bottom andupwardly extending cylindrical side wall thereon, a cover removablymounted on the upper end of the side wall to close the container, saidcontainer having a discharge port in the bottom adjacent the side wall,a funnel-shaped partition having a periphery engaging the side wall ofthe container, means in the container supporting the partition in spacedrelation to the bottom for defining a cube storage chamber above thepartition and a discharge chamber below the partition, said partitionhaving an aperture therein for passage of cubes into the dischargechamber, a rotor in the discharge chamber having a plurality of spacedpockets in the periphery thereof, said rotor adjacent the pockets beingof a thickness substantially corresponding to the collective thicknessof a desired maximum quantity of cubes to be dispensed from any oneposition of the rotor, means for periodically rotating said rotor toposition the respective pockets in registry with the discharge port,said rotor having a sloping upper surface suitably spaced from thepartition whereby rotation of the rotor eiiects movement or" cubes oversaid upper surface into the pockets, a slide member movably supported onthe bottom and having an opening therein normally out of registry withthe discharge port and movable into registry therewith for dispensingcubes through said discharge port from the respective pocket in registrytherewith, means operable by the slide member and movable into therespective rotor pocket above th discharge port as the opening in theslide is moved to effect registry thereof with the discharge port forsupporting any cubes above the one adjacent to and aligned with thedischarge port whereby the cubes are dispensed one for each time theopening in the slide member is moved into registry with the dischargeport until the respective registering pocket of the rotor is empty, andresilient means acting on the slide member for urging said slide memberinto discharge port closing position.

3. Apparatus for dispensing one or more of a limited quantity or cubesof sugar and the like comprising, a container having a bottom andupwardly extending cylindrical side wall thereon, a cover ieniovablymounted on the upper end of the side wall to close the container, saidcontainer having a discharge port in the bott in ad jacent the sidewall, a partition in the contain having a downwardly and inwa dlysloping wall and an axiall arranged aperture therein, the periphery ofthe partition engaging the side wall of the container, means in thecontainer supporting th partition in spaced relation to the bottom fordefining a cube storage chamber above the partition and a dischargechamber below the partition, a rotor in the discharge chamber having aplurality of spaced pockets in the periphery thereof, said rotoradjacent the periphery thereof being of a thickness substantiallycorresponding to the collective thickness of a limited maxi mum quantityof cubes to be dispensed from any one position Of the rotor, power meansfor rotating said rotor to position the respective pockets in registrywith the discharge port, said rotor having a sloping upper surfacesuitably spaced from the partition whereby rotation of the rotormovement of cubes over said upper surface into the pockets, a coilmember extending upwardly from the rotor through the partition apertureinto the storage chamber and rotatable with the rotor to lift andagitate the cubes in the storage chamber and facilitate feed thereof tothe discharge chamber, a slide member movably mounted adjacent thebottom of the container having an opening therein normally out ofregistry with the discharge port, means operatively connected with theslide member for moving same to effect registry of the opening thereinwith the discharge port for dispensing cubes through said discharge portfrom the respective pocket in registry therewith, resilient means actingon the slide member for urging same into discharge port closingposition, a fiat spring havi one end secured to the container and theother end adjacent the slide, and a vane supported on said other end ofthe hat spring spaced above the slide and having a portion engaging theslide member for movement of said vane into the respective rotor pocketabove the discharge port as the opening in the slide is moved to efiectregistry thereof with the discharge'port for engaging any cube above theone adjacent to and aligned with the discharge port.

Apparatus for dispensing one or more of a limited quantity of cubes ofsugar and the like comprising, a container having a bottom and upwardlyextending cylindrical side wall thereon, a cover removably mounted onthe upper end of the side wall to close the container, said containerhaving a discharge port in the bottom adjacent the side wall, apartition in the container having a downwardly and inwardly sloping walland an axially arranged aperture therein, an upwardly extendingcylindrical wall on the periphery of the partition slidably engaging theside wall of the container, means in the container supporting thepartition in spaced relation to the bottom for defining a cube storagechamber above the partition and a discharge chamber below the partition,rotor in the discharge chamber having a plurality of spaced pockets inthe periphery thereof, said rotor adjacent the pockets being of athickness substantially corresponding to the collective thickness of adesired maximum quantity of cubes to be dispensed from any one positionof the rotor, power means for rotating said rotor to position therespective pockets in registry with the discharge port, said rotorhaving a s oping upper surface suitably spaced from the par itionwhereby rotation of the rotor effects movement of cubes over said uppersurface into the pockets, a coil member extending upwardly from therotor through the partition aperture and into the storage chamber androtatable with the rotor to lift and agitate the cubes in the storagechamber fa ate feed thereof to the discharge chamher, a slide membermovably mounted adjacent bottom of the container and having an openingtherein normall out of registry with the discharge port, meansoperatively connected with the slide member for moving said slide memberto effect registry of the opening therein with the discharge port fordispensing cubes through said discharge port from the respective pocketin reglstry therewith, resilient means acting on and urging the slidemember into discharge port closing position, a flat resilient memberaligned with the slide member and extending upwardly alongside thecontainer, means connecting the upper portion of the flat resilientmember to the container wall whereby the lower portion is movable towardand away from the container, a vane secured to the lower end of theresilient member and spaced above the slide at least the thickness ofone cube, and means on the vane engaging the slide whereby said vane ismovable with the slide and when the slide is moved to effect registr ofthe opening thereof with the discharge port the vane moves into therespective rotor pocket and engages cubes above the one adjacent to andaligned with the discharge port whereby the cubes are dispensed one foreach time the opening in the slide member is moved in o registry withthe discharge port until the respective registering pocket of the rotoris empty.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 913,151. Nelle-r Feb. 2 1969 1,659,772 Hanson Feb. 21, 1928l,6l,l.9l Bliss June 5, 1934 2,176,232 Warren et al. Oct. 17, 1939,227,167 Warren Dec. 31, 1940

